Develop program-level good practice ‘rules of engagement’ with farms and households (including data practice);
Peter Thorne to recruit a consultant; circulate TOR.
PT met with some people in Addis (Beth Cullen and Steffen Schulz) to discuss. There is already stuff out there (and some in ILRI) that could be adapted. Suggestion: we engage someone on short-term consultancy to do a full draft.
2
Revisit the program logic in one year + organize a learning event around this.
we need to restructure this. Better identify different types of events (project versus program); link to relevant external event calendar. Action Simret,
7
Science Advisory mechanism
Is there a pressing need for this?
Is a useful mechanism; need detailed TOR.
PeterT/Gerry/Irmgard/Gerry to develop TOR and proposals for next PCT meeting (perhaps build on draft TOR from Humidtropics and others)
8
Gender strategy
This seems to be made more explicit and concrete. We could draw from other CRPs.
ET just recruited a gender scientist (50%) from august.Maybe ask Annette to lead a strategy on this for ARISING?
Need something very specific for ARISING and associated to FTF indicators.That helps guide activities on the ground. Beyond data collection.
Annette to try and develop a preliminary draft (draw from humidtropics model) for the learning event; and have a session on this in the learning event and at the M&E meeting. Final draft for December PCT meeting.
9
Framework for livestock integration
Would a program-wide framework be useful. To help explain. Is action needed on this?
Current participatory baselining etc (in ET) will show livestock up where they are important.
Add to the learning event agenda. Explore formation of a working group.
Try to pull out what livestock research is actually happening in ARISING.
ARISING could be a good vehicle for AID to develop such a framework; but not sure this is actually needed by ARISING for own activities.
Gerry to further specify and focus this (with PeterT and Irmgard)
10
Guaranteed funding for partners
Some CG partners not interested to participate as budgets were too small. They seek a minimum guarantee of income per year, over 3 years.
Need to determine plans based on needs and demands.
USAID Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks
Task
Status
Notes for PCT review
Tracy to report on discussion about FtF indicators for Africa RISING - and all of us in the project to share possible questions to Tracy for that discussion.
Tracy in meeting
in Nairobi
Several interviews with USAID commissioned companies held; Tracy will need to follow up later on this
Jerry to connect comms team with branding team at USAID.
in process
Branding guidelines recently revised; will work with Peter B. and Ewen; seems like we are mostly OK so far on meeting guidelines
Other news:
1.
USAID will likely announce major US university-led Small Scale Irrigation grant in next couple of months; required collaboration with Africa RISING
2.
ACIAR-USAID-BMGF Sustainable Intensification workshop Accra 10-13 July
3.
In process of developing SI & IPM Innovation Labs; US university led; SI Innovation Lab replaces SANREM CRSP; is expected to complement/support CGIAR SI investments
4.
MOUs with USAID/Ghana signed; MoU in Ghana needs to be renewed [IHZ]; with USAID/Malawi in process; with TZ in process [IHZ], ET?
5.
Likely investment of USAID/Africa Bureau in aligning Global Climate Change/Sustainable Landscapes investments with Africa RISING in Malawi & Zambia; initial pilot project (~$300,000) with possible expansion into Ethiopia in near future
6.
USAID has created the Food Security Innovation Center; SI Innovation Center is one "pillar" that includes CSISA, Africa RISING; IPM & SI Innovation Labs; Small Scale Irrigation grant; Coordination & Alignment is key
Oral update
Gerry to continue updating
Many new projects and activities in USAID pipeline. Need to be aware of the possible extra load in terms of relating to all these.
Looking for more alignment among different AID funding streams (and with them and ARISING).
ESA Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks
Task
Status
Notes for PCT review
Annual review and planning meeting
3-5 September, Malawi
Finalise regional logframe
will be done before the next season, after completing new workplans.
26 September meeting Irmgard/PeterT in Addis
Oct 2012 - Mar 2013 report
submitted
April 2013 - Sep 2013 report
will be prepared and submitted in October
2013 -2014 workplan and budget
will be prepared after Review and Planning meeting in September
Farming Systems Analysis by WUR
ongoing
240 surveys completed, entering of data in FarmDESIGN in progress, secondary data are being collected, paper for presentation at Farming Systems Design Symposium in China submitted by WUR
Pest and Disease Diagnostic Survey in Tanzania
completed
carried out by IITA, CIAT and ICRISAT, 2 unknown pests found in common beans, maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND) confirmed in some fields, new virus so far unknown in Africa identified; final report outstanding, findings will be presented at Review and Planning meeting
Workplan implementation
Field season in ESA almost over, data analysis will start; AfricaRice withdrew from project, no alternative partner could be identified, rice systems research suspended
First meeting took place end of May to get to know the two projects and explore potential areas of collaboration.
Next meeting will take place 6-7 September. Workplan cannot be developed until funding level for SIMLEZA is known. A proposal will be developed in August and brought to the meeting for discussion.
Irmgard to organize September meeting with Gerry.
Carlo and Gerry to meet to discuss further formal collaboration.
WA Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks
Task
Status
Notes for PCT review
Annual review and planning meeting
23-25 January 2014, Sikasso or Bamako, Mali
Finalise regional logframe
26 September meeting Irmgard/PeterT in Addis
Oct 2012 - Mar 2013 report
submitted
April 2013 - Sep 2013 report
will be prepared and submitted in October
2013 -2014 workplan and budget
finalized
it is the 2013 workplan, our season here is just starting and will end in December;
AfricaRice withdrew from project; all rice-related work is implemented by national research institute
Formulation of regional hypotheses
finalized
Scientist visit
implementers from Ghana will visit field work in Mali 21-25 October
Recruitment of agricultural economist
position advertised
will be based in Tamale but work in ESA and WA
Farming system analysis
planned
Start in July
Field visit in Ghana by Jerry and Tracy
planned
13-17 July
Include local M&E coordinator (IFPRI)
Ethiopia Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks
Task
Status
Notes for PCT review
Development of SLATE tool
In progress
A current version + software manual and can be shared if required. Some revision / reprogramming needs identified from ToT and AR field site exercises
Training of Trainers (Sustainable Livelihoods Analysis)
Complete
Workshop held at ILRI (April 1 - 5). We now have a cadre of around 20 fully trained implementers spread across our CG and national partner organisations. It looks like we will be using the approach during the Humidtropics CRP startup phase so AR can claim to have delivered a tangible output (or is this an outcome?) to the mother program.
Sustainable Livelihoods Analysis at AR field sites
In progress (half way through)
Field work completed at all eight sites. Currently completing data entry and have started analysis and typology identification (one site complete - the approach appears to work delivering a meaningful and interpretable typology)
Participatory community assessment (PCA)
In progress
Two sites completed (Basona Werana). Field team currently operating in Endamehoni (S. Tigray).
On farm research
Establishing
Protocols finalised around a series on-farm adaptive demonstrations. Focus on improving water supply for value crops, fodder production and technologies for increasing yield and the interactions amongst these.
Finalise regional logframe
26 September meeting Irmgard/PeterT in Addis
Oct 2012 - Mar 2013 report
Behind schedule
April 2013 - Sep 2013 report
2013 -2014 workplan and budget
Partially complete
We need to finalise based on the outcomes of the Livelihoods and PCA studies
Field visits
Focused one-day field visit before learning event (23 sept) To be planned. (Simret/PeterT)
USAID field visit (14-18 Nov) site visits after M&E meeting. To be planned (Simret/PeterT)
M&E Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks
Task
Status
Notes for PCT review
Joint Africa RISING (AR)-Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) M&E meeting:
AR-related
review and planning of AR M&E activities
baseline survey results (Tanzania and Malawi) and planning (Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Zambia)
coordination between Wageningen, IFPRI, and research teams on modeling efforts (crop-modeling, livestock modeling)
AR/CSISA-related
innovating on conventional approaches to technology promotion and extension, i.e., what is/is not working at the field level;
managing valuable data and information collected from the field level for use in project monitoring, management decision-making, and stakeholder outreach;
assessing project interventions, with a focus on the household and landscape level outcomes of both technologies/practices and promotion/extension modalities;
addressing challenges related with M&E and impact assessment needs and efforts, including design of quantitative household surveys;
evaluating impact, either in an ex post manner or in an ex ante; and
enabling cross-hub (cross-mega-site) learning of success stories and lessons learned.
Planned for Nov 11-13 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
upload data onto the monitoring platform by authenticated users (M&E team and research teams)
view sites and community-level reports, including FtF indicators, baseline survey data, and bio-physical characteristics
edit project- and site-specific information by authenticated users
download data (summary of FtF indicators, baseline survey data, bio-physical characteristic, and maps)
linked with AR wiki
Actions:
Web interface to be ready early september
Organize training/awareness session on the platform for ARISING (end August).
eg: In the ESA review and planning meeting?
Under update
FtF indicators to be compiled by the research teams
Local M&E coordinator staffing
ESA: Ainsley Charles (based in Arusha) since March 18, 2013
WA: Justic Ajaari (A Ghanaian to be based in Tamale) starting July 1, 2013
Done
AR baseline surveys (planning)
July/August, 2013 - Malawi and Tanzania (CAPI surveys, interviewer training in Malawi on 8th of July)
Nov/December 2013 - Ghana and Ethiopia
Dec 2013/Jan 2014 - Mali
Zambia-possibly in the summer of 2014 (?)
ongoing
The issue of data use agreement (between AR and SIMLEZA) needs to be settled asap for the M&E team to deliver accurate site characterization result to guide the selection of SIMLEZA sites for AR intervention
When can this be done?
Collaborations
FAO/ Economics and Policy Innovations for Climate-Smart Agriculture (EPIC)--reviewed AR survey tool, contributed questions on climate smart agricultural practices, likely to provide funding for a survey in Zambia (MoU)
ACDI/VOCA--ongoing discussions with M&E managers at headquarters and in Ethiopia--possible collaborations in data collection efforts in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Ghana where ACDI/VOCA sites overlap with AR sites
Vital Signs--reviewed AR survey tool and provided feedback, potential collaboration ??
MSU (meetings w/ Thomas Jayne, Mywish Maredia et al.)--MSU provided resources on household/community/quantitative agricultural surveys, they reviewed AR survey tool, M&E team is expecting feedback on the tool (e.g., how to measure cultivated area/yield accurately with intercropping)
ongoing
Site/field visits
Tanzania, Malawi (2), Zambia, Ethiopia
Ghana, Mali (local M&E coordinator)
done
TBD
Carlo, PeterT and Irmgard to decide about the custom indicators
We are still tied to the 9 principle ones. Or do we want to look for more? We can decide later.
Action: Need to link these in the PMT.
not done
Comms Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks
Task
Status
Notes for PCT review
Program brochure en and fr
En ready
Irmgard to check if IITA can get the French translation done
Program poster en and fr
En ready
Irmgard to check if IITA can get the French translation done
Ethiopia brochure
Done
Ethiopia poster
Done
ESA poster
preparation will start soon
May follow the one from Ethiopia
WA poster
preparation will start soon
May follow the one from Ethiopia
ESA brochure
preparation will start soon
WA brochure
preparation will start soon
Malawi video
in preparation
On agro-ecological intensification options to be used in training workshops for extensionists and development partners
Comms tools flyer
Done
Materials for FARA science week
Simret to prepare, brochures and posters en and fr / liaise with IITA and Ewen
Program generic presentation en and fr
not yet started
Ethiopia generic presentation
Draft
Peter T to check
Powerpoint templates
Done
would like to remove logo of AfricaRice
Document templates en and fr
Done
Wiki usage guidelines
Program framework
Version 1 published
Suggest regular review and update as part of each annual learning event (living document)
‘Matters ARISING’ newsletter
Draft issue 1
Photofilm training Ethiopia
Planned week 8 July
Photo journalist visit 2013
August
Northern Ghana
Maybe Mali
Learning event 2013
in process
Agenda (simret and ewen) and participants (peter t and irmgard) to be finalised
needs to include program framework review
IITA comms person for ARISING
Being recruited by IITA
applications are being received
Virtual comms catchups
Irregular
Simret/Ewen
Half-yearly comms metrics/stats
Aim for Sep 1, 2013
Blog updates
ongoing
need regular stories from all regions
Wiki gardening/management
Documents to CGSPACE
regularly updated
Are partners using this tools? IHZ still receiving requests for documents.
Use of yammer for internal updating
initiated
needs wider promotion and buy-in
Photo sharing on flickr
needs photos from other regions
Presentations shared on slideshare
regulary updated
need more presentation from WA and ESA
ARISING calendar updating
regular updated
Comms tools awareness
Organize at learning event
Action
Status
Notes
1
P. Thorne to meet with some people in Addis to build the first draft of the ‘rules of engagement’ with farms-household;
2
Revisit the program logic in one year + organize a learning event around this.
3
Peter and Irmgard to develop the regional logframe (with their team) and feed it back to the Malawi meeting
4
IITA will look into this office space issue.
5
IITA and ILRI to contact responsible folks in IITA project, ATA, Humidtropics team to source additional funding.
6
Irmgard and Mateete to look into allocation of contingency funds for M&E.
7
Jerry to connect comms team with branding team at USAID.
8
Comms team to provide quarterly stat reports.
9
Peter B, Peter T and Irmgard to track ideas about project contributions to program comms.
10
Ewen and Tracy to work together on program brochure.
11
Jerry, Irmgard and Peter to organize the Malawi meeting
12
Peter T. to spark the discussion again on the program document (sharing his comments on the comments) and Ken/Irmgard to share factual omissions and typos with Peter B and Ewen and with this PCT group
13
Shortly after the March Malawi meeting there will be a virtual PCT meeting to discuss the planning of this learning meeting further and to take stock of planned events.
14
All teams to review by 28 Feb the possible meetings to plan (stakeholder, review, planning, steering committee meetings) and share it with us - Ewen/Peter to identify possible overlaps and clashes.
15
Jerry / Peter B to collect information about the budget required.
16
Tracy to report on discussion about FtF indicators for Africa RISING - and all of us in the project to share possible questions to Tracy for that discussion.
17
Carlo, Peter T and Irmgard to decide about the custom indicators
24 June 2013
Virtual meeting -3.30-5.30pm EAT,1.30-3.30pm Ibadan,8.30-10.30am DC
Table of Contents
Agenda
Overall action points
Objectives looks fine; agenda flow looks ok. Dates are fixed.
Field trip on 23rd (limited number, not all. Need to decide who; and where to go.)
Irmgard and PeterT to decide final participant lists for the meeting
Finalise the lists of invitees asap
keep the focus on ARISING people
include some national partner reps
Get the people invited asap
Simret to lead all of this.
we need to restructure this. Better identify different types of events (project versus program); link to relevant external event calendar. Action Simret,
Is a useful mechanism; need detailed TOR.
PeterT/Gerry/Irmgard/Gerry to develop TOR and proposals for next PCT meeting (perhaps build on draft TOR from Humidtropics and others)
ET just recruited a gender scientist (50%) from august.Maybe ask Annette to lead a strategy on this for ARISING?
Need something very specific for ARISING and associated to FTF indicators.That helps guide activities on the ground. Beyond data collection.
Annette to try and develop a preliminary draft (draw from humidtropics model) for the learning event; and have a session on this in the learning event and at the M&E meeting. Final draft for December PCT meeting.
Current participatory baselining etc (in ET) will show livestock up where they are important.
Add to the learning event agenda. Explore formation of a working group.
Try to pull out what livestock research is actually happening in ARISING.
ARISING could be a good vehicle for AID to develop such a framework; but not sure this is actually needed by ARISING for own activities.
Gerry to further specify and focus this (with PeterT and Irmgard)
Need to determine plans based on needs and demands.
USAID Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasksin Nairobi
Gerry to continue updating
Looking for more alignment among different AID funding streams (and with them and ARISING).
ESA Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks26 September meeting Irmgard/PeterT in Addis
240 surveys completed, entering of data in FarmDESIGN in progress, secondary data are being collected, paper for presentation at Farming Systems Design Symposium in China submitted by WUR
carried out by IITA, CIAT and ICRISAT, 2 unknown pests found in common beans, maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND) confirmed in some fields, new virus so far unknown in Africa identified; final report outstanding, findings will be presented at Review and Planning meeting
Next meeting will take place 6-7 September. Workplan cannot be developed until funding level for SIMLEZA is known. A proposal will be developed in August and brought to the meeting for discussion.
Irmgard to organize September meeting with Gerry.
Carlo and Gerry to meet to discuss further formal collaboration.
WA Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasksit is the 2013 workplan, our season here is just starting and will end in December;
AfricaRice withdrew from project; all rice-related work is implemented by national research institute
will be based in Tamale but work in ESA and WA
Start in July
13-17 July
Include local M&E coordinator (IFPRI)
Ethiopia Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasksA current version + software manual and can be shared if required. Some revision / reprogramming needs identified from ToT and AR field site exercises
Workshop held at ILRI (April 1 - 5). We now have a cadre of around 20 fully trained implementers spread across our CG and national partner organisations. It looks like we will be using the approach during the Humidtropics CRP startup phase so AR can claim to have delivered a tangible output (or is this an outcome?) to the mother program.
Field work completed at all eight sites. Currently completing data entry and have started analysis and typology identification (one site complete - the approach appears to work delivering a meaningful and interpretable typology)
Two sites completed (Basona Werana). Field team currently operating in Endamehoni (S. Tigray).
Protocols finalised around a series on-farm adaptive demonstrations. Focus on improving water supply for value crops, fodder production and technologies for increasing yield and the interactions amongst these.
We need to finalise based on the outcomes of the Livelihoods and PCA studies
USAID field visit (14-18 Nov) site visits after M&E meeting. To be planned (Simret/PeterT)
M&E Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasksAR-related
- review and planning of AR M&E activities
- baseline survey results (Tanzania and Malawi) and planning (Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Zambia)
- coordination between Wageningen, IFPRI, and research teams on modeling efforts (crop-modeling, livestock modeling)
AR/CSISA-relatedActions:
Web interface to be ready early september
Organize training/awareness session on the platform for ARISING (end August).
eg: In the ESA review and planning meeting?
When can this be done?
TBD
We are still tied to the 9 principle ones. Or do we want to look for more? We can decide later.
Action: Need to link these in the PMT.
Comms Update
Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasksSuggest regular review and update as part of each annual learning event (living document)
Northern Ghana
Maybe Mali
needs to include program framework review